Reclining chair mechanism



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 30, 1964 vwn INVENTOR FRANK M RE ATTOR/VE).

FRANK M. RE

RECLINING CHAIR MECHANISM A ril 5, 1966 Filed Nov. 50, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

FRANK M. RE

ATTORNEY.

April 5, 1966 FRANK M. RE RECLINING CHAIR MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 50, 1964 INVENTOR.

- FRANK M. RE BY Q M ATTORNEY.

United States Patnt fie;

3,244,449 Patented Apr. 5, 1966 This invention relates to a high-leg, high-back reclining chair having a one-part or two-part leg-supporting assemblage movable between a stored position adjacent the chair seat and an extended position forwardly thereof coordinated with a reclining movement of a two-part body-supporting assemblage.

The reclining chair herein described has none of the bulky and unattractive attributes of hitherto known reclining chairs, and offers a slim, smart appearance per- ;mit-ting its integration into a wide range of furniture deors.

With presently known reclining chairs, especially those having a two-part foot-stool or leg-rest, it has been impossible, in the chair upright or sitting position, to con cealfrom View the linkage mechanism and the stored foot stool part without the use of a drape or the like extending from the chair frame to the floor, wherefore the chair legs are also concealed from view. My linkage mechanism is so compactly arranged that, in the upright or sitting position of the chair, it is concealed from view beneath the seat, along with the stored foot stool part, without the use of a depending drape, wherefore the chair legs remain visible.

It is an object hereof to provide a reclinablechair with operating mechanism therefor, w'herewith a leg-supporting assemblage including a unitary foot stool or pivotally interconnected primary and secondary foot stool parts, and a body-supporting assemblage, including pivotally interconnected and reclinable seat and back-rest elernents, are movable coordinately between their respective positions assumed when the chair is in the uprightsitting, foot-stool retracted position, in the fully-reclining, foot-stool-ex-tended position, and in a multiplicity of reclining positions therebetween.

Another salient object hereof is to provide an improved chair, inclusive of novel control and braking devices wherewith smooth, coordinated reclining movements are attained, particularly as the chair occupant moves into any position of reclination, the objectionable sensation of fallingfexperienced with so many prior art reclining chairs, being herewith obviated.

These and other incidental-aims and objects will be more apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the subjoined drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through a reclining chair incorporating my invention, the bodysupporting assemblage being shown in a fully upright sitting position, and the leg-supporting assemblage in a retrae'ted stored position;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 1, the bodysupporting assemblage being shown in a partially reclin- 'ing position and the leg-supporting assemblage in an extended leg-supporting position; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, the body-supporting'i assemblage being shown in a fully reclining position an'cl the leg-supporting assemblage in an extended legsupporting position; and

" FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the braking and control means of the linkage mechanism of the invention, with certain parts omitted for purposes of clarity, the components being shown in substantially the FIG. -3 position.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is illustrated a reclining chair incorporating features of the invention and including a frame, generally indicated by 10, having side walls 12 interconnected by suitable cross members such as 14 and supported on substantially upright legs 16 which may be of a stylish or modernistic design.

A body-supporting assemblage, generally indicated by 20, including a seat 22 and a back-rest 24 pivoted thereto,

is mounted on frame 10 for movement between a fully upright sitting position and a plurality of reclining positions.

A two-part, fold-away leg-supporting assemblage, generally indicated by 30, is positioned at the forward face of the chair and is constituted by a primary foot stool 34 and a secondary foot stool 32 pivotally interconnected. A one-part leg supporting assemblage could be substituted therefor within the spirit of this invention.

Leg-supporting assemblage 30 is connected, by means of a linkage mechanism, to the forward end of seat 22 and to frame it) for movements between a fully-retracted position, as viewed in FIG. 1, an extended position, as viewed in FIG. 2, and a fully-extended position, as viewed in FIG. 3 and intermediate positions therebetween.

In the fully-retracted position, which is the fully-upright or sitting position of the chair, the one-part footstool would be positioned flush with the forwardly-facing vertical front rail of seat 22. Where a two-part foot-stool is employed, as shown, primary foot stool 34 is positioned substantially flush with the forwardly-facing vertical front rail of seat 22, while the cooperant secondary foot stool 32 is positioned so as to extend rearwardly from adjacent the lower end of said primary foot stool in manner to be concealed from view beneath the seat.

When primary foot stool 34 is elevated and advanced to any extended position, cooperant secondary foot stool 32 is moved therewith accordingly, it being pivotally interconnected thereto. When the primary foot stool is in a fully-extended position, the secondary foot stool will have moved to a position forwardly thereof and in axial alignment therewith. v

A linkage mechanism, constituting one of a pair, is stationarily mounted on cross member 14, the latter being extendable transversely relative to and between the inner faces of opposite side walls 12 of frame 10.

A generally vertically-disposed support plate 46 extends horizontally in substantially parallel relation to an adjacent side wall 12 of the chair and is stationarily fixed, adjacent its forward end, to cross member 14 by a bolt 42 extending downwardly through an offset portion 44 of the support plate and through an aligned opening in the cross member, bolt 42 having a nut 46 threaded thereon. Support plate 40 is additionally secured, adjacent its rearward end, to the adjacent portion of the coplanardisposed side wall 12 of frame 10 by a screw 48.

Extending laterally outwardly from and integral with the forwardmost end face of support plate 40 is a linkage mechanism stop 50 for limiting the range of linkage mechanism movement. a a

A seat bracket 5'2 is stationarily secured to the lower edge of the adjacent side rail of seat 22 by screws 54.

A seat-back link, generally indicated by 60, includes an upper portion 62 stationarily secured to the adjacent side rail of back-rest 24 by screws 64, and a lower forwardly-extending portion 66 integral therewithconnected at its forward extremity to seat bracket 52 near-the rearward extremity of the latter by a pivotal connection 68 to allow swinging movement of seat 22 and back-rest 24 relative to each other.

Body-supporting assemblage 20 is suppo-rted'for pivotal movement relative to stationary frame 10 by means of a primary back-supporting link 70 which is connected at its upper extremity to seat-back link 60 by a pivotal connection 72 and is connected at its lower extremity to support plate 40 by a pivotal connection 74.

Body-supporting assemblage 2% is additionally supported for pivotal movement relative to stationary frame 19 through a secondary mounting link 76 and a tertiary mounting link 78.

Leg-supporting assemblage is connected to seat 22 by means of tertiary mounting link 78 and is additionally connected to said seat and to frame 10 by the linkage system which includes a riser link 80 connected at its rearwardrno-st end to support plate by a pivotal connection 82 and connected at its forwardmost end to one end of tertiary mounting link 78 by a pivotal connection 84. Tertiary mounting link 78 is connected at its opposite end to seat bracket 52 by a pivotal connection 86. A connecting link, generally indicated by 91 is superposed upon tertiary mounting link 78 and is connected approximately centrally of its length to riser link 80 at the pivotal connection 8%. Connecting link 9%!) includes integral upper and lower portions 92 and 94 respectively, upper portion 92 being connected to an end of a control link 96 by a pivotal connection 98, and lower portion 94 being connected to an end of a first long link 1% by a pivotal connection 102.

Control link 96 is connected at its opposite end to seat bracket 52 by a pivotal connection 104.

A second long link 106 is connected at one end to seat bracket 52 by a pivotal connection 168, is connected at its opposite end to an end of a third long link 110 by a pivotal connection 112, and is connected at its approximate midsection to first long link 1% by a pivotal connection 114.

First and third long links 109 and 110 respectively are connected at their opposite or outermost ends to a secondary foot stool support bracket 120, first long link 1% being connected thereto by a pivotal connection 122, and third long link 11% being connected thereto by a pivotal connection 124.

Secondary foot stool 32 is fixed to support bracket 120 by screws 126 or equivalent.

A primary foot stool support bracket 13th carries an integral depending tail portion 132, said tail portion being connected, at its approximate midsection, to primary foot stool support bracket at the pivotal connection 122, and being connected at its lowermost end, to an end of a stop link 140 by a pivotal connection 142.

Stop link 1 10 is connected at its opposite end to third long link 110 by a pivotal connection 144.

Primary foot stool 34 is fixed to support bracket 130 by screws 146'or equivalent.

A stop pin 150 extends laterally outwardly from third long link 110 and is positioned so as to be engageable by an edge of stop link 140, when secondary foot stool 32 has reached a position of axial alignment with primary foot stool 34, as will appear.

Riser link 80 interconnects the leg-supporting assemblage to stationary frame 10 through its pivotal connection 84 with tertiary mounting link 78. Riser link 80 is adapted to rotate upon pivotal connection 82, located adjacent its rearward extremity, by means of which the riser link is interconnected to support plate 449 and is rotatable relative thereto.

The lower edge or face of riser link 80 is provided, adjacent its forward extremity, with a recess 152 adapted to receive mechanism stop 50 in abutting relationship to limit the range of downward movement of the riser link and hence of the entire linkage mechanism beyond a predetermined limit as dictated by the relationship of parts in the chair upright position.

A stop pin 154 extends outwardly from riser link 80 and, when contacted by the upper portion 92 of connecting link 90, precludes further rearward movement of the linkage mechanism beyond the limit dictated by the positioning of primary foot stool 34 flush with the forward edge of seat 22 in the chair upright position. Second long link 106 carrying a stop 1437 stops on stop pin 154 in the fully upright position.

An elevator link 1613 is connected to riser link approximately centrally of the latter by a pivotal connection 162 and is connected to the lower end of secondary mounting link '76 by a pivotal connection 164, connected to seat bracket 52 by a pivotal connection 166.

Elevator link 16% is additionally connected to one end of a push link 170 by a pivotal connection 172, the push link being connected at its opposite end to support plate 461 by a pivotal connection 174.

A braking device in the form of a friction link 180 is disposed in face-to-face contact With the rear face of elevator link 166), is connected at one of its ends to said elevator link at the pivotal connection 162, and is connected at its opposite end to riser link 80 by a bolt 182 extendable through aligned openings in the friction link and riser link and through an arcuate slot 184 provided in the elevator link, said bolt having a nut 186 threaded thereon.

Nut 186, when tightened against riser link 80, will draw friction link 180 inwardly in manner to increase frictional engagement between elevator link 160 and riser link 80. Conversely, nut 186 may be loosened, whereupon frictional engagement between the elevator link and riser link is decreased.

Nut 186 and bolt 182, cooperantly with friction link 180, constitute an adjustable braking mechanism wherewith the force or weight required to move the body-supporting assemblage to one of a plurality of reclining positions may be varied, in accordance with the specific desires or requirements of a particular chair occupant.

The chair occupant may reach the partially-reclining position of FIG. 2 from the fully-upright position of FIG. 1 by causing a rearwardly-directed component of force to bear upon back-rest 24 in manner to cause body-supporting assemblage 20 to move in a substantially rearward direction relative to cross member 14 by the coordinated swinging movements of the trio of mounting links 70, 76 and 78.

As seat 22 moves rearwardly, control link 96 is accordingly moved rearwardly therewith, wherefore it exerts a pulling force upon the upper end of upper portion 92 of connecting link causing the latter to swing upon the pivotal connection 84.

Rotation of connecting link 90 urges first long link forwardly and outwardly, thereby causing second long link 1% to swing at its upper end on pivotal connection 108.

As second link 1% swings, it urges third long link forwardly and upwardly, with this movement of link 110 causing secondary foot stool support bracket to swing upon its pivotal connection 122 with primary foot stool support bracket 130. This swinging movement of secondary foot stool support bracket 120 continues until stop link 146 contacts stop pin to preclude further rotation at which time the primary and secondary foot stools are axially aligned and are disposed upwardly of the floor in substantially parallel relationship thereto.

In such foot stool extending movement sequence, riser link 80 has not changed its generally-horizontal position relative to support plate 40 and continues to rest on stop 50, even though leg-supporting assemblage 30 is now fullyextended.

To reach the fully-reclining position of FIG. 3 from the partially-reclining position of FIG. 2, the chair occupant need but once again bring additional rearward pressure to bear upon back-rest 24 as by pushing with the hands upon the upper surface of side Walls 12 of the chair, whereupon the forward end of riser link 80 is pulled upwardly by tertiary mounting link 78 through pivotal connection 84, causing the riser link to swing at its rearward end on pivotal connection 82.

As back-rest 24 is further angularized, seat 22 and seat bracket 52 are urged generally upwardly by lower portion 66 of seat-back link 60 through pivotal connection 68, and the lower end of elevator link 160 is pulled upwardly by secondary mounting link 76 through pivotal connection 164, whereupon elevator link 160 is caused to pivot relative to riser link 80 on pivotal connection 162 until bolt 182 contacts the end of slot 184 to preclude further rotation of elevator link 160.

Friction link 180 controls the ease of rotation of elevator link 160 upon pivotal connection 162, depending upon the adjustment of nut 186 relative to bolt 182. By this simple adjustment, coupled with the rise of the seat, better control is achieved.

The occupant may return the chair from a fully-reclining position to a semi-reclining position, with the legsupporting assemblage remaining extended, by exerting a slight downward pressure upon seat 22, or simply by bringing the shoulders away from back-rest 24, causing riser link 80 to move downwardly into contact with stop 50 and causing secondary mounting link 76 to exert a downward pressure upon elevator link 160 whereupon the elevator link rotates upon its pivotal connection 162 so that the arcuate slot 184 moves upwardly relative to bolt 182.

The interconnection between riser link 80, secondary and tertiary mounting links 76 and 78 respectively, and elevator link 160, insures reclining movements of the body-supporting assemblage which are smooth, effortless and perfectly controlled, balanced and coordinated.

The features of the invention which I believe to be new and patentable are set forth in the appended claims:

I claim:

1. A reclining chair comprising, a stationary frame supported upwardly of the floor by spaced elongated legs, a body-supporting assemblage including a seat and a backrest pivoted thereto, said body-supporting assemblage being rockably mounted on said frame, a leg-supporting assemblage articulately connected to said body-supporting assemblage and to said frame comprising a primary foot stool fixed to a primary foot stool support bracket and a secondary foot stool fixed to a secondary foot stool support bracket, said primary and secondary foot stool support brackets being pivotally interconnected, means for moving said leg-supporting assemblage between a nonoperative retracted position with said primary foot stool being disposed below the forward edge of said seat in alignment therewith and with said secondary foot-stool being disposed rearwardly of said primary foot stool so as to be concealed from view, and an operative leg-supporting position forwardly of said seat and on a plane there with with said secondary foot stool having moved to a position forwardly of said primary foot stool so as to be in axial alignment therewith, said means for moving said leg-supporting assemblage including a pair of long links one of which is pivoted at one end to said secondary foot stool support bracket and the other of which is pivoted at one end to said primary and secondary foot stool support brackets and each of which is operatively connected at its opposite end to said seat and to said frame, a tail por tion depending from said primary foot stool support bracket, and a stop link pivoted at one end to said tail portion and pivoted at its opposite end to one of said long links wherefore said secondary foot stool is precluded from movement beyond a position of axial alignment with said secondary foot stool.

2. In a reclining chair as set forth in claim 1 including adjustable braking means connecting between said bodysupporting assemblage and said frame whereby the range and rate of reclining movement of said body-supporting assemblage may be selectively controlled.

3. In a reclining chair as set forth in claim 1 including first stop means limiting the range of movement of said leg-supporting assemblage and second stop means limiting the range of movement of said body-supporting assemblage.

4. In an improved foot stool and control arrangement for use in a reclinable chair having a stationary frame and a body-supporting assemblage inclusive of a seat and backrest :pivotal relative to each and pivotally mounted on the frame for movement between upright sitting position and a plurality of rearwardly-tilted positions, the improvement comprising, a two-part leg-supporting assemblage formed of a primary foot-stool fixed to a primary foot-stool support bracket and a secondary foot-stool fixed to a secondary foot-stool support bracket, said support brackets being hingedly interconnected for turning movement rela tive to each other, a depending tail portion integral with said primary foot-stool support bracket, and a control linkage mounting said leg-supporting assemblage on the seat and on the frame and guiding it between retracted position with the primary foot-stool disposed in a substantially vertical position beneath the seat and with the secondary foot stool disposed in an inverted substantially horizontal position beneath the seat and a plurality of extended positions forwardly of the seat, said control linkage including a pair of spaced links pivotally connected to said secondary foot-stool support bracket, one of said links being additionally pivotally connected to said primary foot stool and a stop link pivotally interconnecting between the other of said links and said tail portion of said primary foot-stool support bracket for effecting a rotative movement of said secondary foot-stool relative to said primary foot stool, and actuating means connecting between the seat and frame and connected to said control linkage for actuating said control linkage to move said leg-supporting assemblage responsively to movement of said body-supporting assemblage.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,914,114 11/1959 Fletcher 297-86 X 2,953,192 9/1960 Fletcher 297-85 2,974,720 3/ 1961 Jelinek 297 3,001,817 9/1961 Fletcher 297 X 3,033,612 5/1962 Schliephacke 29788 3,054,639 9/1962 Schliephacke 29789 3,058,774 10/1962 Bclisle et al 29789 3,100,668 8/1963 Rogers et al 29775 X 3,128,122 4/1964 Mizelle 297-88 3,135,547 6/1964 Schliephacke 297-83 3,166,353 1/1965 R 297-83 X CASMIR A, NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Examiner.

I. T. McCALL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A RECLINING CHAIR COMPRISING, A STATIONARY FRAME SUPPORTED UPWARDLY OF THE FLOOR BY SPACED ELONGATED LEGS, A BODY-SUPPORTING ASSEMBLAGE INCLUDING A SEAT AND A BACKREST PIVOTED THERETO, SAID BODY-SUPPORTING ASSEMBLAGE BEING ROCKABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, A LEG-SUPPORTING ASSEMBLAGE ARTICULATELY CONNECTED TO SAID BODY-SUPPORTING ASSEMBLAGE AND TO SAID FRAME COMPRISING A PRIMARY FOOT STOOL FIXED TO A PRIMARY FOOT STOOL SUPPORT BRACKET AND A SECONDARY FOOT STOOL FIXED TO A SECONDARY FOOT STOOL SUPPORT BRACKET, SAID PRIMARY AND SECONDARY FOOT STOOL SUPPORT BRACKETS BEING PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTED, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID LEG-SUPPORTING ASSEMBLAGE BETWEEN A NONOPERATIVE RETRACTED POSITION WITH SAID PRIMARY FOOT STOOL BEING DISPOSED BELOW THE FORWARD EDGE OF SAID SEAT IN ALIGNMENT THEREWITH AND WITH SAID SECONDARY FOOT-STOOL BEING DISPOSED REARWARDLY OF SAID PRIMARY FOOT STOOL SO AS TO BE CONCEALED FROM VIEW, AND AN OPERATIVE LEG-SUPPORTING POSITION FORWARDLY OF SAID SEAT AND ON A PLANE THEREWITH WITH SAID SECONDARY FOOT STOOL HAVING MOVED TO A POSITION FORWARDLY OF SAID PRIMARY FOOT STOOL SO AS TO BE IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT THEREWITH, SAID MEANS FOR MOVING SAID LEG-SUPPORTING ASSEMBLAGE INCLUDING A PAIR OF LONG LINKS ONE OF WHICH IS PIVOTED AT ONE END TO SAID SECONDARY FOOT STOOL SUPPORT BRACKET AND THE OTHER OF WHICH IS PIVOTED AT ONE END TO SAID PRIMARY AND SECONDARY FOOT STOOL SUPPORT BRACKETS AND EACH OF WHICH IS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED AT ITS OPPOSITE END TO SAID SEAT AND TO SAID FRAME, A TAIL PORTION DEPENDING FROM SAID PRIMARY FOOT STOOL SUPPORT BRACKET, AND A STOP LINK PIVOTED AT ONE END TO SAID TAIL PORTION AND PIVOTED AT ITS OPPOSITE END TO ONE OF SAID LONG LINKS WHEREFORE SAID SECONDARY FOOT STOOL IS PRECLUDED FROM MOVEMENT BEYOND A POSITION OF AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID SECONDARY FOOT STOOL. 